Noah's Ark park coming

The creators of Northern Kentucky's controversial Creation Museum say enough money has been raised to proceed with a new biblical theme park built around a 510-foot replica of Noah's Ark.

Ken Ham, the president of Answers in Genesis who gained national attention earlier this month after a debate with Bill Nye the Science Guy, said that after a recent bond offering "the funding is in place" to start building the "Ark Encounter" park on an 800-acre site in Grant County, Ky.

The Ark's website says it has raised $14.4 million in private donations toward the $24.5 million needed to build the ark alone as part of a theme park that is expected to cost more than $120 million. The complete first phase totals more than $70 million, and officials said they sold most of the $62 million in municipal bonds offered to investors.

"We're going to begin construction, and this is going to be great for the area," Ham said in an online announcement Thursday night, noting the park would open in 2016. "Let's build the ark."

Along with the three-story wooden boat — which Ham said would be the largest timber-frame structure in the United States — the park would eventually include a pre-flood themed area, live animal shows, the "Tower of Babel" featuring a special-effects theater and a first-century village.

Williamstown Mayor Rick Skinner said the project would bring hundreds of jobs and attract hotels and restaurants to a largely rural community.

"We're happy to be the home of the Ark," Skinner said.

But Josh Rosenau, policy director for the California-based National Center for Science Education, said the Ark park is objectionable because it displays "a false account of world history and biology" and presents it "as if it were fact."

Answers in Genesis and its Creation Museum embraces a literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis and a belief that the Earth is only 6,000 years old — a view that runs counter to established science. As a result, it has drawn widespread criticism and derision.

On his website, Ham wrote that "God has burdened AiG to rebuild a full-size Noah's Ark."

But fundraising initially was slow after plans were announced in 2010, Ham has said.

Late last year, the city of Williams­town, where the park would be located, helped by offering $62 million in municipal bonds on behalf of the Christian group. The city isn't responsible for repaying the unsecured bonds, which would come from park revenues. Partly because of a lackluster response, the sale was extended in December.

Mike Zovath, the Ark project coordinator, said the minimum amount was sold, which constituted most of the bonds, and AiG purchased some. They did not provide exact figures.

AiG officials said they would continue raising money for various phases of the project, including lifetime "boarding passes" costing $3,000 for families and $2,000 for individuals.

State development studies have predicted that the theme park would draw hundreds of thousands of visitors and bring in a net fiscal impact of $119 million over 10 years, including sales and income taxes.

In 2011, the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority granted approval for up to $43.1 million in sales-tax rebates over 10 years. State tourism law allows developers to recover up to 25 percent of the project's cost through a return of the sales tax paid by visitors on admission tickets, food, souvenirs and other expenses.

Gov. Steve Beshear has defended his support for the project, saying that if the park failed, the state would not be out any money.

Earlier this year, Bloomberg News reported that the Ark project was drawing comparisons to tourist attractions from Alabama to Nebraska that have defaulted on such bonds, and noted that it came with the added risk of legal challenges from those who believe the religious themes may violate the Constitution.

Groups such as Americans United for Separation of Church and State have argued that Kentucky's tourism department is supporting religion. But Rosenau said that, despite his opposition, he does not think it would be Constitutional violation.

Officials said they plan to break ground in May. Ark Encounter has begun to file permit applications for the park. One filed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for permission to impact wetlands for the construction the park and roadways on the 795-acre parcel.

On its website, the group said the ark would be built by the Indiana-based Troyer Group, a design and construction firm. AiG officials said it would include exhibits focusing on how Noah would have built the ark, as well as evangelical elements.

Ham spent much of the announcement railing against reporters and atheist bloggers for "distortions," and Zovath said he was pleased the project would move forward.

He said the release of the upcoming big-budget movie about Noah and the flood would help stoke interest in the project despite "the liberties that Hollywood takes."

Reporter Chris Kenning can be reached at (502) 582-4697. Follow him on Twitter at @ckenning_cj.